IN BRIEF

Gov. Jim Gibbons has appointed Kirk Montero as director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

Montero replaces Tim Maland, who resigned in September.

The governor says Montero, 60, has years of experience and will bring new ideas to draw more visitors to Nevada.

Montero is station manager for US Airways at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Before that, he was reservations manager for Reno Air.

HOUSTON

State Bar of Nevada moves annual meeting

The current economic climate has prompted the State Bar of Nevada to move its 2009 annual meeting, previously set to take place in Hawaii, to a Nevada location.

In a statement, officials said the state bar places a high importance on supporting the local Nevada economy during these tough times.

The meeting had been announced for mid-June on Kauai. The annual meeting typically draws between 100 and 200 lawyers, depending on location.

As data signal waning demand, oil prices dip

Crude prices tumbled Wednesday following a raft of bad economic news and growing stockpiles of unused gasoline that suggested demand for energy has continued to erode.

Light, sweet crude for February delivery fell $3.63 to settle at $35.35 in a shortened day of trading. Prices fell as low as $35.13 just before the market closed for the holiday.

It was the ninth straight day that crude has fallen.

NEW YORK

Treasury prices mixed in shortened session

Treasury prices finished Wednesday’s shortened session narrowly mixed after the government released more gloomy readings on the economy.

The 10-year Treasury note fell 0.03 points at 113.81, and its yield rose to 2.18 percent from 2.16 percent. The 30-year Treasury bond rose 0.16 points to 138.03, and its yield edged lower to 2.63 percent from 2.64 percent.

***

U.S. financial markets will be closed today for Christmas.

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Business

Las Vegas union members voting to authorize the right to strike

Thousands of Las Vegas union members voting Tuesday morning to authorize the right to strike. A “yes” vote would give the union negotiating committee the power to call a strike anytime after June 1 at the resorts that fail to reach an agreement. (Todd Prince/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Small businesses struggle to find qualified candidates

A 2018 survey found that over two-thirds of small businesses in Nevada find it somewhat to very difficult to recruit qualified candidates. Bailey Schulz/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nevada secretary of state website offers little protection against fraudulent business filings

Property developer Andy Pham tells how control of his business was easily seized by another person using the secretary of state website.

Caesars may be going solo in its marijuana policy

Several Southern Nevada casino companies aren’t following Caesars Entertainment’s lead on marijuana testing.

How much is the Lucky Dragon worth?

Less than a year-and-a-half after it opened, the Lucky Dragon was in bankruptcy.

Gyms and discount stores take over empty retail spaces

Grocery stores used to draw people to shopping centers. But many large retail spaces have been vacant since 2008. Discount stores like goodwill and gyms like EOS Fitness are filling those empty spaces, and helping to draw shoppers back in. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Funding source of Las Vegas stadium for the Raiders is sound, expert says

The stadium is funded in part by $750 million of room taxes, the biggest such tax subsidy ever for a professional sports stadium. Robert Lang, executive director of Brookings Mountain West and The Lincy Institute at UNLV, says that is a good use of public funds. (Richard Velotta/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Las Vegas needs light rail, expert says

Robert Lang, executive director of Brookings Mountain West and the Lincy Institute said he is afraid of a "congestion mobility crisis." Las Vegas needs a light rail system, he said, to accommodate the city's growing number of attractions. (Richard Velotta/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Three takeaways from Wynn Resorts' Earnings Call

Matt Maddox came out swinging in his first earnings conference call as Wynn Resorts chief executive officer, boasting of record Las Vegas quarterly revenues and applicants lining up for work.

Star Wars VR Comes to Las Vegas

Sneak peak at the new "Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire" VR experience at the Grand Canal Shoppes.

Elaine Wynn continues her fight to change Wynn Resorts board

Elaine Wynn, the largest shareholder of Wynn Resorts Ltd., is seeking to kick a friend of her ex-husband Steve Wynn off the company’s board of directors. (Todd Prince/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Ellis Island, which operates a casino, brewery and hotel just off the Strip, purchased the Mt. Charleston Lodge in early April.

Casinos to be penalized for allowing drug-impaired customers to gamble

Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Tony Alamo talks about an amendment making casinos subject to the same disciplinary standards of preventing people to gamble if impaired by drugs as they are for letting them play while intoxicated by alcohol.

Terrible Herbst to open large travel center in Southern Nevada

The 50,000-square-foot commercial travel center will include 96 fuel pumps and the third White Castle restaurant in Southern Nevada. Wade Tyler Millward reports.

Allegiant Air passengers voice their views on the airline at McCarran International Airport on April 16, 2018. (Bailey Schulz/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Longtime Las Vegas attorney John Momot dies at age 74

Criminal defense attorney John Momot, who represented mob figures and even played himself in the movie “Casino,” has died.

Trump Slams Amazon for Not Paying Enough in Taxes

Trump Slams Amazon for Not Paying Enough in Taxes Trump tweeted his concerns about the company on Thursday. This isn't the first time Trump commented on the issues via Twitter. August 2017 December 2017 Amazon did hold back on paying state taxes in 1995, but the company has been routinely collecting state sales taxes since then. In 2016, the company's report from the Securities and Exchange Commission confirmed it paid $412 million in taxes.

David Copperfield in court after man injured during magic trick

The attorney for a British man who is suing illusionist David Copperfield said his client suffered serious injuries after being called on stage during Copperfield's show at MGM Grand.

eyecandylab CEO shows augmented reality during NAB

Robin Sho Moser, CEO and co-founder of eyecandylab gives an augmented reality demonstration at his booth during the National Association of Broadcaster Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Trends in access to capital for local black business owners

Denette Braud, owner of Braud’s Funnel Cake Cafe, talks about what owning her own business means to her.

Sir Richard Branson announces purchase of Hard Rock Hotel

Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, has acquired the Hard Rock Hotel with partners and plans to turn it into a Virgin-branded property by the end of 2019.

Calvary Christian Learning Academy, “There was no fair warning.”

Samantha O’Brien, whose three-year-old daughter attended the Calvary Christian Learning Academy daycare, found out Monday night when her daughter’s teacher called about the school closing.

Adobe unveils #HackTheBracket application for March Madness

Adobe unveiled their #HackTheBracket application at the Adobe Summit trade show at Sands Expo. People can use data from Adobe Analytics to make their bracket for March Madness. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Adidas Signs Yankees' Star Aaron Judge

Adidas Signs New York Yankees Star Aaron Judge The slugger is set to
don a new set of stripes this
season after signing with
the apparel company. Aaron Judge Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal includes branding on his batting gloves and wristbands. Judge, the AL's reigning Rookie of the Year, was previously under contract with Under Armour since 2014. Judge won the American League Rookie of the Year award last season after setting an MLB record for most homers in a rookie season (52).

Bettor Investments formerly operated a Nevada-licensed entity betting operation. The company promised “conservative growth, profits and stability for our investors.” Matt Stuart, who ran the fund, shut it down in late 2016 and never made good on an agreement with shareholders.

Starbucks Will Give You $10 Million for a Better Cup Design

Starbucks Will Give You $10 Million for a Better Cup Design Get your thinking caps on because the company is looking for a new cup that's easier to recycle. The $10 million grant challenge sees Starbucks partnering with investor group Closed Loop Partners for the project. According to CNN Money, Aside from the new cup design challenge, Starbucks stated it will test a cup with an inner lining made from plant fibers to prevent hot liquid from leaking. Will you join the challenge for #Bettercups?